30.8.11

If you are an Arizona Resident, you have become familiar with the term "haboob" as of late. The reason I must tell you about our weather, is because Mia and her man headed right into the eye of the haboob for me this summer. This particular haboob came with 60 mph winds and was 60 miles wide. It turned our usually sunny, blue skies completely black. This is a picture of the haboob as it rolled into our neck of the woods on July 6th.

I had located yet another treasure on Craigslist that was at a woman's house close to Mia's. It was priced at a mere $50, so I knew that it would go quick. It was just what I had been looking to find for months, and the dimensions were perfect for my space. Mia has a truck and trailer, and of course said she would be happy to drive over and pick it up on a moments notice. She and Todd headed out, innocently enough to do a friend a favor. She called to tell me she had secured the workbench from "Barbie", who may or may not have been employed in the male entertainment industry, but that the weather had taken a turn for the worse, and they couldn't see 5 feet in front of them. I thought she was being dramatic as I looked out my window at a perfectly balmy evening.

Five minutes later, about 10 teenagers piled into my house, terrified. They had come to pick my Jaci up for an evening of fun. They tumbled through the back door like they had been blown in by a hurricane, asking if I had looked outside recently. I was in my apron, making dinner, but made my way to the back porch, where I saw one of the craziest things EVER!!

Everyone was scared and astounded. We have had some pretty crazy storms during the monsoon season around here, but never, ever, anything like this. I did the only thing I knew to calm our full household down that night. I made Pazookies for all! Pazookies are a little piece of heaven. A chocolate chip cookie, slightly underbaked in a ramekin, topped with vanilla bean ice cream while still warm. I think it improved the mood for everyone under my roof that night.

Back to my glorious workbench, secured in the storm, and delivered to me the next day. This is how I found it. Solid and sturdy, but beat up just a touch, which is precisely what I was going for. I am filling the basement family room with relaxed, industrial pieces and accessories. I need things that will withstand boys, teenagers, brothers, cub scouts, and a husband!

The finish was raw pine, so I just wiped it down, then gave it a coat of Chestnut Gel Stain. Of course I chose to do this on a record breaking heat day in Phoenix for this time of year, 117 degrees. Lovely.

I let it dry overnight, then finished it with a Minwax Clear Wax, which I love. The wax just gave it a nice, rich luster, not a shiny finish. It dries hard with no residue. I would have loved to use some Annie Sloan wax, but sadly enough, there is not one stockist of her products in the whole big state of Arizona.

Here she (he?) is, wheeled into place under the t.v. I needed a big piece of furniture here, it's a long wall in a big room. I had originally sketched out some ideas of things to build, but when I saw my neighbor's workbench in his garage, the wheels in my head started turning, and I started scouring Craigslist and garage sales. I have plenty of storage in the vintage suitcases for all the necessities. A $50 solution to a dilemma that was keeping me up at night. It's perfect!

WoW! You have got some serious vision! Eat your heart out Restoration Hardware! I too LOVE Annie Sloan paints (and even thought about being a stockist in TX), but for waxing, I think Minwax is easier to spread, smells slightly better (or less) and is definetly easier on the pocketbook. As always, I leave inspired!Cammie

This post made me so happy! I love monsoon's (I'm in Az also) but this whole Haboob thing is just silly! LOL I think that the baby pazooki's were a great idea, and one that I think I'll steal next time friends come over. I LOVE your industrial style entertainment center! Great job. Would love it if you linked up to my Mommy Monday link up :)

Jill, I love how your brain works! I consider myself a creative person, but you blow me away!! I love ASCP, it's so fun to work with when distressing. I haven'tried the wax, I also like the minwax just fine. Cant wait to see more from your basement!TC

Cream crisco and sugars, add eggs, then all the dry ingredients. Spray Pam in ramekins, press the cookie dough in. Bake at 350 until just barely starting to brown on the edges. Take out and cool until warm. Serve with a scoop or two of vanilla bean ice cream. Enjoy!

I LOVE the workbench, wish I would have thought of that. Although, I did get a pretty cool buffet from the Potato Barn for our tv. And I think I am still trying to clean up the dirt from the haboob of the century! ~Rosanne

haboob's, pazookies, whats next? you're gonna use a work bench for an entertainment center? you kids and you're crazy imagination!just kidding. im in prescott and of course have seen those crazy dust bombs on t.v. my daughter is in chandler and has had to deal with them too. scary mary for sure..love the work bench. such a cool idea.

Just saw you guys on Centsational girl. Yay! LOVE, LOVE this workbench! And, yeah, aren't those haboobs nuts this year. Hopefully we don't get any more. But yeah, it looks awesome. Love the way you accessorized it!

I also saw this on Pinterest and loved it! You did a great job of staining it. I love that shade of stain. Can you tell me the brand name? My husband has agreed to build me a workbench table for my television similar to yours and I would like to stain it the same shade. I hope you don't mind but I featured yours on my blog. Thanks for sharing!

I love it!!! It looks fabulous, especially the way you have surrounded the tv with the antiques. My hubby recently bought a giant tv and now I'm trying to figure out how to fit it into my room of light colors and antiques... ahhhh!!! Thanks for the inspiration! :)Michelle

I just want to let you know that my husband and I were so inspired by this (after I pinned it) that he made one for me!! I featured it on my blog and you can see our version hand made by my husband here : http://www.nuestrasaventurasentexas.com/2012/01/pinterest-love-and-project-follow.html

Hi there....I actually ordered the topiaries from Ballard Designs and no, they are not real. But they are great to look at and even easier to take care of! I got them about 8 years ago, and still love them today.xo,Jilly

Hi Kim: Sorry I'm so late with a reply, but I just cleaned out my paints and found the gel stain I used. It's by Minwax and it's called Chestnut. It was actually in the storage room of the house I moved in to, so I have no idea how old it is, but that's the color name, and I really love it! Hope that helps!xo,Jilly

Hi,I'm popping over from BL after your marvelous workbench/console was shared there today. I'm beyond impressed. I never in a million years would have thought a workbench could look that wonderful after a good cleaning, and a little stain and wax. I'm in awe, and off to explore your blog to see what other wonders I can drool over!Thanks,Michelle @ Sweetsuite10

Hi. Love your blog and found you from Pinterest. I love it so much my husband is in the process of trying to make it for me. Would you please share the dimensions such as size of top bards length width distance between legs on sides etc. thanks so much. Angie

Hi. My wife came across your workbench/console and has tasked me to try and build one as well! To piggyback off of the previous poster, would you be able to share the dimensions of the workbench and what boards are being used on the top and for the sides/support. Thanks! John

Hi! I found your site from Ana-white.com and followed her plans for this bench console, but I've run into an issue. Its more of a design flaw than a measurment but if anyone else tries to build, they'll discover what I have.

When building the end pieces, there is the part that measures 13 3/4" labeled "shorter bottom stretcher". It is shown in the plans that it mimics the upper stretcher and kind of floats between the two 2x4's. However, if you use a Kreg Jig, you will drive the Kreg screws right between the two 2x4's that you've sandwiched together.

To fix this, you have to move the 2x6 shorter bottom stretcher either inward 3/4" to make flush with the inside or to the outside. This will effect the boards that you cut for the shelving on the bottom. So, make note of the measurement changes and you should be fine.

Thanks for the inspiration!! I cant wait till it's done and I can "brag" about it on Ana's site ;-)